Reading And Leeds Festivals have rounded out their lineup with the BBC Introducing Stage, which as always is a hotbed of new talent, including several bands from Yorkshire.
Leeds five-piece Carnabells won the opportunity to open the Festival Republic Stage (Friday 22, Reading/Saturday 23, Leeds) via the annual Futuresound competition, with Yorkshire-based bands Crybabycry, Tabloids, Forever Cult, Allusondrugs and Vendettas all bagging slots on the BBC Introducing stage. York’s own Girlsondrugs (pictured) also feature on the BBC Introducing Stage thanks to their success in the Centre Stage competition, while fellow York band Hello Operator were hand-picked by the team at BBC Introducing In York & North Yorkshire to play the stage.
[like_to_read][/like_to_read]These acts join an eclectic lineup of up-and coming talent, headlined by London soul singer Moko, delicately-voiced Blackpool songstress Rae Morris, and Scottish synth-pop trio Prides. Check out the full list of artists appearing on the BBC Introducing across the weekend below:
Friday 22nd (Reading)/Saturday 23rd (Leeds)
Moko
The Bulletproof Bombs
Broken Hands
Lyves
Rebecca Clements
John J Presley
Judge And The Jury
Dancing Years
Natasha North
Shambles In A Husk
Crybabycry
Girlsondrugs
Saturday 23rd (Reading)/Sunday 24th (Leeds)
Rae Morris
Happyness
Hello Operator
Oh Volcano
Juniors
Lippi
All We Are
Sunset Sons
Bloody Knees
Tom Prior
Tabloids
Forever Cult
Sunday 24th (Reading)/Friday 22nd (Leeds)
Prides
Crystal Seagulls
Adam French
Heavy Petting Zoo
Jack Garratt
Man Made
Mother
Esco Williams
Billie Marten
The Hijacked
Love Zombies
Allusondrugs
Vendettas
Announcing the BBC Introducing stage, festival organiser Melvin Benn took a moment to praise longstanding BBC Introducing presenter Alan Raw, who was instrumental in making the idea of a new bands stage at Reading & Leeds a reality, before congratulating the assembled local bands on their hard-earned slots at the festivals. He ended his speech with a simple, but pointed message: “This festival is real.” That is to say, it focuses on music first and foremost. We’ll be bringing you all the action from Leeds Festival over the bank holiday weekend.
Reading festival is completely sold out, but tickets for Leeds Festival are still available – head to the official website for more details.
For more information on this year’s Futuresound and Centre Stage winners, see below
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This year saw the return of the prestigious Futuresound Competition, offering the winner the chance to perform on the Festival Republic Stage and five runners up the chance to open over on the BBC Introducing Stage. Leeds’ piano bashing, rock ‘n’ roll five piece Carnabells came in on top for what is sure to be the opportunity of a lifetime over on the Festival Republic Stage.
The Friday at Reading and Saturday at Leeds sees self-proclaimed ‘Black Keys meets Nancy Sinatra’ trio Crybabycry open the stage. Saturday at Reading and Sunday at Leeds bills the post punk and pop of Tabloids and Forever Cult’s slow burning grunge kicking off festivities. Sunday at Reading and Friday at Leeds, West Yorkshire alternative five piece Allusondrugs and the mod sounds of Leeds’ Vendettas will be opening the stage.
Centre Stage 2014 winners GirlsOnDrugs have also been added to the bill. A collaboration between a boy and girl, the band have deep bass synths and dream-laced chords enlivened by the beautiful, sultry, vocal talents of Kat McHugh, whose voice dances from pure expression to melancholic yearning.
